[Blog Tour] A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr: Review, Guest Post, Tour-Wide Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Cast of Stones
by Patrick Carr
Paperback, 400 pages
Expected Publication: February 1st 2013 by Bethany House Publishers

Premise:

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom. 

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.

Available 2/1/13:

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Christian Book Distributors

The Book Depository

About the Author:

Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.

Awards: ACFW Genesis Competition 2010 Finalist for “A Cast of Stones” in Speculative Fiction.

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Review

My thoughts: Patrick Carr’s debut novel, A Cast of Stones, is the first book in The Staff and the Sword series. It is an epic medieval tale of a boy who turns into a man and learns about himself while going through an dangerous odyssey.

I'm a difficult reader to please within the fantasy/medieval genre, because I'm not really into it. It is pretty hard for me to wrap my mind around new worlds so full of things I've never heard about or that are completely made up. Before, I only had fully accomplished that with Patrick Rothfuss' book, The Name of the Wind. Now I'm pleased to say that A Cast of Stones is another one of the rarities  that manages to captivate me with its world and that Patrick Carr is definitely one to watch.

The first pages of this book were tough. The mean character, Errol, a nineteen-year-old  boy stars off pretty low on the awesomeness scale. I mean, he's a drunk and after spending all he had in drinks, he goes around begging for food. But then he was given a mission, he has to deliver a pretty important message to an hermit priest who lives in the middle of nowhere.  The journey sounds hard enough but Errol had to fight for his life while trying to make it to the priest house. 

Errol is a character you grow fond with. Little by little you learn a lot about him and why he's like that. He definitely evolves through the book, learn things about himself he wouldn't even dream of in his wildest dreams. He's gifted and his gift puts him a lot of danger, but it is like he's been given a reason, a purpose to fight and man up, which he does.

Our protagonist -with the help of his friends- goes from being the drunk of a tiny town who doesn't even know how to read to be one of the most important pieces in the King and Church side of a fight that has been going on for a while now. 

Patrick Carr creates a world so believable and character so deep you feel like you are living everything along with them and it is really easy to get caught up in the story. The writing is precise, full and diverse, no repetitive words or redundant paragraphs. It is pretty perfect, at least from my point of view.

I think Carr is a bright mind to keep an eye on and I would most definitely read the next book on this series.

Rating:

I would recommend it for: Everyone. Especially for fans of the fantasy genre. It is definitely a MUST read.

Guess Post

 Visuals

The most important visual for the church was for my main character, Martin Arwitten. The name itself is a play on words. I borrowed the first name from Martin Luther and took the last name from the village where he wrote his works, Wittenburg. From there it seemed natural that I use the following image.

My sister, Ramona, is my alpha reader. She gets everything I write even before the first set of edits. Why she’s willing to read the very first draft is beyond me, but she’s been so helpful and encouraging. When she first started reading “A Cast of Stones” she said that the character Martin reminded her of the skipper from Gilligan’s Island. Here his picture.

I was really happy with that. She’d never seen the picture I’d used to describe my character. I took that as a sign that my characterization was pretty accurate.

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

Grand Prize (USA & Canada):  Print copy of entire series of three books (#2 & #3 as they are published) + A Cast of Stones Mug + Lend your name to a character in book #3!!

2nd Prize (USA & Canada): Print copy of A Cast of Stones

International Entries: eCopy of A Cast of Stones

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and sponsored by Bethany House & the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Only on this Tour... the author shares the Creation, his Goals, some Visuals and Excerpts on each of these mini-themes:

The Herbwomen of secret lore

The World of The Staff & the Sword

The Readers of the cast lots

The Watchmen, elite warriors

The Clergy of power

Catch the entire Tour!!

LAUNCH-DAY BLAST! 

1/23 - Backing Books - Herbwomen

1/24 – Christian Novels – Review – World

1/25 – I Am a Reader, Not a Writer – Readers

1/27 – Reads to Reels – Watchmen

1/28 – LDS & Lovin’ It - Clergy

1/29 – Proud Book Nerd - World

1/30 – Open the Page - Herbwomen

1/31 – Wonderings of One Person – Review - Readers

2/1 – RELEASE-DAY BLAST! 

2/3 – Simple Wyrdings - Watchmen

2/4 – Bookworm Lisa – Review – Clergy

2/5 – Passion & Life – Readers

2/6 – Kari’s Crowded Bookshelf – Review Herbwomen

2/7 – Coffee, Books & Me - Readers

2/8 – Backing Books – Review – World

2/10 – Letters to the Cosmos - Watchmen

2/11 – Jill Williamson – Review – Clergy

2/12 – ADD Librarian Herbwomen

2/13 – Worthy 2 Read – Review - Watchmen

2/14 – Hey, Tara! - World

2/15 – Pieces of Whimsy – Review - Readers

2/17 – CTF Devourer – Review – Clergy

2/18 – Pause Time - Readers

2/19 – A Backwards Story – Review – World

2/19 - Christy’s Cozy Corner – Herbwomen

2/20 – Min Reads & Reviews – Review Watchmen

2/21 – FINALE BLAST, Winner announced

[Review] Torn by Amanda Hocking

Title: Torn

Author: Amanda Hocking

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Published: February 28th 2012 by St. Martin's Griffin (first published December 31st 2010)

Series: Trylle (Book #2)

Source: I purchased a copy from a bookstore.

Blurb from Goodreads: When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story…
She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.
Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds.
As a special gift to readers, this book contains a new, never-before-published bonus story, “One Day, Three Ways,” set in the magical world of the Trylle.

Review

My thoughts: Torn is the second book from the Trylle series and it was one of the most astonishing sequel I've ever read. When you start a series and the first book turns out to be amazing, you just have to hope the second one can keep up the awesomeness. And this one completely did, and more than that. I loved Switched so much, that I gave it 5 clocks, but then if I could give Torn 5 & half or 6 clocks I would, but that's out of my rating system. What Amanda Hocking has created is a stunningly beautiful world, where even the secondary character have their time to shine and the protagonist never stop to grow in your heart. 

You can check out my review of Switched (Trylle #1) HERE!

About plot & characters: After Wendy and Rhyss run away from Forening, they try to explain Matt what's been going on in the last weeks, and when they finally seem to start making progress, the Vittra come into scene, kidnapping them and taking them to the Vittra palace. Here's where Wendy finds out she's the most important piece in all this Trylle puzzle. She's right in the middle of a fight that has been going on for many years.
In Torn, we are introduced to the other side of this world, the Vittra, and to a lot of new characters that come into play. We meet the Vittra king, who happens to be the most tyrant, cruel and self-centered being in the whole world. There is Sara, his wife, who is submissive and kind but I just hated her for being such a coward and never standing up to him. And we met Loki. How can I start talking about Loki without melting down? He's gorgeous and sexy and sarcastic and if I'd have to compare him to another character I'd say he's a lot like Jace from TMI series. If you loved Jace, I'm sure you will love Loki. 
There is a lot going on in the Trylle side of the world too. We get to know Willa and Tove a lot better and I really grew fond of both of them. 
There is Duncan too, Wendy's new bodyguard. He's just adorable, you can't help but love him. He's goofy and silly but he has a great heart and he would do anything to keep Wendy safe. 
The only one who has lost all my respect is Finn, I just can't stand him anymore, he's so focus on his job that he can't see anything else around him and I just want to kick his ass and telling him to grow some balls and start fighting for what he loves.
Wendy is growing too. Without her even knowing it, she's becoming in someone worth to be called "princess". She realizes that there are a lot of flaws in the system that has been ruling the world of the Trylle and she's not willing to just let it be, because there's the way the thing has been managed since forever. She wants justice, and she's willing to fight for it. 

About the ending: It was a proper ending, but that doesn't mean I liked it. It was necessary but you know how many times what's right is not what we want? Well, that's it. In the last two chapter I hated Finn more than ever and that's a shame because I really liked him in the first book. I can't really tell you much more about it without giving it up and ruining it for you, so you'll have to read it to find out what I'm talking about.

About the writing: I was so blown away by the first book that I started this one right away. I wasn't sure of what to expect, but in Torn, Amanda manages to keep up with the vertiginous pace of Switched and include a lot of details and information that help to built the background story without making you feel like you are being info-dumped. The character development is amazing, you can almost see the changes that Wendy is being going through and how everything is starting to fall in its right place. I loved how what it seemed to be a paranormal love story has become in an epic battle between two very different and powerful sides of the same species, leaving the protagonist right in the middle of everything. It's full of great moments, surprises, action, love and suspense. Everything was so well-written that when finished the book I was satisfied with the story but eager to start reading the last one in the series.

I would recommend it for: If you haven't read the first one yet, you HAVE to read it as soon as you can and catch up to this amazing book! I couldn't recommend it more!

Rating:

Quotes:

“I don't care where I come from or who you are. I can make you happy, and you make me happy. We could have a happily ever after.” 

“Right then, it didn't matter what his reasons were. All I knew that I was sick of him breaking my heart.” 

“Tove had blown the doors open with his abilities, and he stood on the other side of them, looking astonishigly bad ass.” 

“And I have two eyes. I’ve seen that little melodrama play out between you and that other tracker. Fish? Flounder? What’s his name?” 



About the author (from her Goodreads page):

I live in Minnesota, and I write young adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy mostly. The My Blood Approves series is about vampires in Minneapolis, and its available now. I also wrote the Trylle Trilogy, which is a paranormal romance without vampires, shifters, mermaids, fae, angels, dragons, ghosts, or ninjas.
My latest book is Hollowland - a zombie urban fantasy set in the dystopian near future. It's a bit more violent and gritter than my other books, but there is still romance. Mostly though, Remy kicks a lot of butt. 
I also enjoy Red Bull, Jim Henson, Batman, Jane Austen, Star Wars legos, and I absolutely hate long walks on the beach out of my intense fear/hatred of wet sand 
My favorite authors are Kurt Vonnegut, Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Alan Moore, and J. D. Salinger, but I don't write anything like them. I have an obsession with River Phoenix, and I've seen Silence of the Lambs more than any other movie, even The Dark Knight. If I were trapped on a deserted island, the one thing I'd take with me would be a boat capable for taking me home.
I'm also the guitarist in a band called the Fraggin Aardvarks, and even though its even twice as cool as it sounds, we haven't had a practice in like two years, so I'm not sure that technically we are still a band. But we never broke up, and it's an awesome thing to tell people, so I'm sticking with it. (We even had a synethesizer!)

Here are some ways you can talk to me:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/amanda_hocking

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandahockingfans

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/amanda_hocking  

Email: hocking_amanda@hotmail.com

[Review] Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins

Published: September 1st 2009

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Series: The Hunger Games (Book #2)

Source: I purchased a copy from a bookstore.

Blurb from Goodreads: Sparks are igniting, flames are spreading and the Capitol wants revenge. 
Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss shoul be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol -a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped created.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn.

Review

First thoughts: After reading The Hunger Games, and being blown away by it, I just needed to start Catching Fire right away. I was afraid, though. Because with such a powerful first book, there's so little to do in a sequel. So I started this one feeling a little bit uncomfortable, hoping it wouldn't ruin the whole story. And it didn't. It just blew me away some more. I read a comment from Stephenie Meyer, the Twilight series author, which describes pretty much the exact feeling I have about this book: “Catching Fire not only lived up to my high expectations, it surpassed them. It's just as exciting as The Hunger Games, but even more gut wrenching, because you already know these characters, you've already suffered with them.”

About the plot: This book is divided in three parts and each of them show a different stage in this story. Each one is full with excitement and unexpected turns. 

In the first one, we get to see what's been going on since Katniss and Peeta won the 74th Hunger Games. We learn about the others districts when the couple goes to visit them for the Victory Tour. It shows the consequences of what Katniss did in order to stay alive in the Games. Some of the districts are starting a rebellion. And President Snow knows exactly who is to blame. Besides, things are really mixed up in Katniss love life. Peeta won't talk to her if there isn't a camera shooting them, because of what she said on the train, about everything between them being a just-to-survive kind of thing. And Gale suddenly throwing his heart out to Katniss. So, our girl is pretty confused. On top of that, the President threats Katniss friends and family, so the girl on fire has to keep pretending that Peeta is the love of her life and that everything she has done so far was just because she's insanely in love with him.

The second part was the most unexpected one for me. We can almost see the feelings shifting from fear to pure rage on Katniss behavior. The Quarter Quill is coming and everything that Katniss and Peeta has being trying to forget is starting all over again. But this time, Katniss has made a commitment to herself: she will keep Peeta alive, whatever it takes, even if it is her own life what's on the line.

The third part is the coolest. I love it so much! We get to know some new characters like Finnick  Odair who is the sexiest guy who has ever walk on the face of Earth. Johana Mason the girl who won the Games a few years ago pretending she was all scared and then turning into a killing machine. 

About the writing: The first part of the book is a little bit slower that the first book. But then it all starts spinning around so fast that you don't have time to worry about it. The story is told from Katniss point of view like the first book, but now that you already know her, you understand why she thinks and does everything and sometimes you are able to predict what she's going to say next, like she is one of your best friends and you know her that well. I found that pretty amazing, because I love to feel related to the character I read about.

About the ending: I was NOT expecting that. God! I don't know how Collins manages to keep amazing me that way. Picture the most unfortunate turn of events and there you go! 

I would recommend it for: If you read the Hunger Games and liked it. You can not miss this one. And if you haven't read the first book, what are you waiting for?!

Rating:

Quotes:

“My nightmares are usually about losing you. I'm okay once I realize you're here.” 

“I realize only one person will be damaged beyond repair if Peeta dies. Me.” 

“Really, the combination of the scabs and the ointment looks hideous. I can't help enjoying his distress.
"Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your life you haven't looked pretty?" I say.
"It must be. The sensation's completely new. How have you managed it all these years?" he asks.
"Just avoid mirrors. You'll forget about it," I say.
"Not if I keep looking at you," he says.” 

“The bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst into flames. I am the mockingjay. The one that survived despite the Capitol's plans. The symbol of the rebellion.” 

“At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead.The hard thing is finding the courage to do it.” 

About the author: 

Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days.
While working on a Kids WB show called Generation O! she met children’s author James Proimos, who talked her into giving children’s books a try.
Thinking one day about Alice in Wonderland, she was struck by how pastoral the setting must seem to kids who, like her own, lived in urban surroundings. In New York City, you’re much more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole and, if you do, you’re not going to find a tea party. What you might find...? Well, that’s the story of Gregor the Overlander, the first book in her five-part series, The Underland Chronicles.
Suzanne also has a rhyming picture book illustrated by Mike Lester entitled When Charlie McButton Lost Power.
She currently lives in Connecticut with her family and a pair of feral kittens they adopted from their backyard.
The books she is most successful for in teenage eyes are the Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. These books have won several awards, including the GA Peach Award.
Website: http://suzannecollinsbooks.com/

[Review] The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Title: The Name of the Wind

Author: Patrick Rothfuss

Published: March 27th, 2007

Publisher: DAW Hardcover

Series: The Kingkiller Chronicle (Book #1)

Source: I purchased a copy from a bookstore

Blurb from Goodreads: Told in Kvothe's own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature. A high-action story written with a poet's hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.

Review

My thoughts: This books is huge! At first I though I wasn't gonna be able to finish it. The edition I read had 872 pages and this is definitely the longer book I've ever read. It took me like a week to finish. But I enjoy and daydreamed about it the entire week I spent reading it. I'm going to keep it short, because there are no words to describe this book properly. 

Rothfuss create such an amazing world! I love how immerse I was in Kvothe's adventures. Besides, there's is so much more than just the story of one boy... It has so many characters, everyone with their own personality and each one plays a role in this book. I just adore how everything was built. There is a new language, there's magic which you can learn at university! I love the possibilities in it. Kvothe is a character you can relate to because he's been through so much. He has lost his parents and he's been looking for his mythical killers ever since. It's a journey, with so much to enjoy about it. I'm not really up for books like this, because I'm a fan of fast-paced book, stories you can read in a day. But this one, I loved. It's my exception. I absolutely loved it. 

The best: Descriptions. I absolutely adored how everything is so easy to picture while you are reading The Name of the Wind. It's a tale of tales. There's so much in this book, a whole new world, a new reality, even a new language. Everything is so well written!

I would recommend it for: Everyone who enjoys epic tales. This is one of the best fantasy books I've read. If you like whole new worlds and adventures, this is the right book for you.

Rating:

Quotes:

“It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.” 

“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.” 

“You have to be a bit of a liar to tell a story the right way.” 

About the author: 

It all began when Pat Rothfuss was born to a marvelous set of parents. Throughout his formative years they encouraged him to do his best, gave him good advice, and were no doubt appropriately dismayed when he failed to live up to his full potential.

In high-school Pat was something of a class clown. His hobbies included reading a novel or two a day and giving relationship advice to all of his female friends despite the fact that he had never so much as kissed a girl. He also role-played and wrote terrible stories about elves. He was pretty much a geek.

Most of Pat's adult life has been spent in the University Wisconsin Stevens Point. In 1991 he started college in order to pursue a career in chemical engineering, then he considered clinical psychology. In 1993 he quit pretending he knew what he wanted to do with his life, changed his major to "undecided," and proceeded to study whatever amused him. He also began writing a book....

For the next seven years Pat studied anthropology, philosophy, eastern religions, history, alchemy, parapsychology, literature, and writing. He studied six different martial arts, practiced improv comedy, learned how to pick locks, and became a skilled lover of women. He also began writing a satirical advice column which he continues to this day: The College Survivial Guide. Through all of this he continued to work on his novel.

In 2000 Pat went to grad school for English literature. Grad school sucked and Pat hated it. However, Pat learned that he loved to teach. He left in 2002 with his masters degree, shaking the dust from his feet and vowing never to return. During this period of time his novel was rejected by roughly every agent in the known universe.

Now Pat teaches half-time at his old school as an assistant-sub-lecturer. He is underpaid but generally left alone to do as he sees fit with his classes. He is advisor for the college feminists, the fencing club, and, oddly enough, a sorority. He still roll-plays occasionally, but now he does it in an extremely sophisticated, debonair way.

Through a series of lucky breaks, he has wound up with the best agent and editor imaginable, and the first book of his trilogy has been published under the title "The Name of the Wind." 

Though it has only been out since April 2007, it has already been sold in 26 foreign countries and won several awards. 

Pat has been described as "a rough, earthy iconoclast with a pipeline to the divine in everyone's subconscious." But honestly, that person was pretty drunk at the time, so you might want to take it with a grain of salt.